Plunge was perilous, weather was perfect for Discovery Museum fundraiser

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Eureka city staff, some jumping for the firs time, composed the It’s in the Cards team.

The “plungers,” whether individual or a team, were judged on their costumes and style of jump.

Sydnee Stanton swims back to the Boardwalk dock that she just jumped off of.

Mandy McNay, above, and Alicia Weems jump into Humboldt Bay during the Perilous Plunge on Saturday. The event is the Discovery Museum’s one big fundraiser each year, and its proceeds set their budget for the next twelve months. For 17 years, brave souls from all over Humboldt and beyond have collected pledges, dressed up in costumes, and jumped into the bay to support the programs, exhibits and camps the museum offers. Each plunger raises at least $150, and many raise far more. - Photos by Shaun Walker — The Times-Standard

The skies above Humboldt Bay were a brilliant blue and the water was very cold, but for the cast of characters lined up to take their chance to jump into those frigid waters the weather conditions were perfect for the 17th annual Perilous Plunge fundraiser for the Redwood Discovery Museum in Eureka.

The corps of plungers marched from the E Street plaza up to F Street and the down to the pier as The Jackson 5 classic ‘ABC’ blasted from speakers. Overhead a Coast Guard rescue helicopter did a fly-by. The parade was led by Eureka City Councilwoman Kim Bergel who was the Queen of Hearts and she was followed by her court composed of employees with Eureka’s Community Services Department.

One member of that court, Victoria Anderson, who was making her first plunge with the “It’s In the Cards” team said she chose to participate because “it’s something I have never done before.

“My friends were doing it so I decided to as well,” Anderson said. “It’s a great way to support the Discovery Museum.”

When the plungers reached the pier they lined up in the order they would jump while “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves played from the speakers and emcee and 1st District Humboldt County Supervisor Rex Bohn hyped the crowd of about 200 people.

Inside the tent at the foot of the pier, 4th District Supervisor Virginia Bass and former Eureka city manager David Tyson tried to find the correct ratio for the mixing of bloody marys while the water rescue team from Humboldt Bay Fire and a rescue swimmer from the Coast Guard were on hand if an emergency arose in the water.

Crystal Linde, a third-grade teacher and part of the ‘Building Bridges’ team composed of teachers from Lafayette Elementary and Zane Middle Schools was pretty excited for her first plunge and she was dressed in an elaborate and eclectic outfit that could only be called “teacher chic.”

“I’m really good at making a fool of myself. Just ask my students,” Linde said. “We have six members on the team and we are here to support the Discovery Museum and all it stands for. I am terrified of going into the freezing water but it’s for a good cause.”

The Perilous Plunge is the primary fundraiser for the Discovery Museum and executive director Kala Minkey was busy at the registration table welcoming participants.

“About half are return plungers and about half are rookies,” Minkey said. “The fundraising is key to our programs and it pretty much sets our budget for the year.”

The perilous plungers, whether individual or a team, were judged on their costumes and their style of jump and for the lucky winners there were handcrafted trophies created by retired science teacher, artist and museum board member, Ken Pinkerton.

“Ken also comes in each week and maintains all the displays at the museum,” Minkey said.

Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” was the song playing as the first plungers took to the water and there would be a bloody mary, a hot tub and hot soup for those brave enough to have taken the perilous plunge.